Bally's vs. LINQ - Will we be satisfied?

Hi all, hoping for some advice here. I'm not sure why we have this offer since we don't gamble that much but I am able to book a free room at LINQ or Bally's during the time period we're looking to visit Vegas (Dec 26 - Dec 30, 2016). There is also the opportunity to book at some of the other TR properties at reduced rates.

Anyway, just looking for some opinions from you guys based on the following:

1) We're in our mid/late 30s and don't do a lot of gambling or partying. To be honest we like to just walk around the strip, people watch, have some good meals, and then get outside of Vegas for outdoor activities like Valley of Fire during the day. However, when we do gamble it is typically video poker and I'm a huge fan of the craft beer bar at the LINQ. I also like the bar (Heart Bar?) at PH.

2) Our previous stays were at Vdara (2 years ago) and Palazzo (last year). So basically we're used to this type of nice 'suite-esque' room and the properties have both been relatively laid back, clean, and quiet.

3) We will have a car for the upcoming trip. I really liked the Palazzo parking situation so this will be a consideration for us.

4) Bally's - The hotel kind of makes me think of a (much larger) hotel at Tunica like the Horseshoe or Gold Strike. Older, probably smoky with some run down sections, but nice enough to put your head down at night. I've read a lot of really good things about the updated Jubilee Tower rooms and the fact that it is basically center strip where we like to walk around is a huge plus. We can get the Jubilee King Strip View here.

5) Linq - I'm a big fan of the LINQ casino as a low roller. It's spread out and doesn't feel over bearing. I know it was recently renovated so assume the rooms are in good shape. I just assume it's a younger crowd so probably has a greater potential to be a bit rowdy at night. We can get the Luxury King here.

Not sure if this is really enough info for you guys to help us decide so if you need any more info just let me know. To be honest we're actually leaning towards Bally's Jubilee at present. In fact I actually went ahead and booked a Jubilee King Strip View room just to hang on to it for the short term. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

One note, I would like to find a place that is relatively quiet at night. I'm thinking the one negative to being near center strip is that you may have to contend with a lot of thumping bass throughout the night and that's something I'd like to avoid if possible.

 

I booked the Linq. I am a 7 star player and have stayed at Caesars, Paris, Cromwell. I decided this year to try the Linq because we enjoyed playing there last August. I also like being in this area because there is a lot to do. I booked a suite and they look pretty nice online since the place has been redone. I am going in February and can let you know how it was.

 

Cannot tell you about Ballys but have been to the Linq twice now. The rooms with Highroller view are a long walk from the elevators but very quiet. Rooms are small but not too small and everything is brand new and clean. We usually split our stay with 3 nights x 2 hotels and the last times second hotel was the Cosmo. Yes, that is an unfair comparison . But still, I would take the Linq rooms happily every time again for the cheaper alternative. As you said, nice casino and perfect location are more good reasons for the Linq

 

I would strongly suggest Bally's over Linq if only for the total elevator mess, which probably will not be corrected by the holidays this year.

 

What mess ? Never had a problem and no long waits...

 

You sound like us, we're mid-30's, and not partiers (although we are big gamblers). I would highly endorse LINQ. If you want to people watch, its right in the middle of the action with a lot of through traffic. And you've already found the bar at LINQ. We stayed there a few trips ago for a couple nights and were pleasantly surprised with the room renovations. We normally stay at Palazzo, and while I can't say LINQ's room was as nice, it was nicer than a lot of other rooms I've seen on the strip. Some people talk vaguely about elevator issues, but we've never seen/experienced one there ourselves.

Simply from the casinos themselves, I find Ballys to be rowdier than LINQ, but in fairness I've only stepped foot in Bally's 2-3 times.

I wouldn't shy away from LINQ if I were you. Enjoy the trip!

 

I've stayed at IP/ Linq at least 7 times and Bally's about 4. Bally's all day to me. Linq got all hoity toity even though it's still not that great, and the elevators are dreadful.

Location and action is better at the Linq, but I don't think it's worth it, we like to walk though.

 

What's wrong with the Linq elevators?

Last year I cancelled the D because of their elevator issues and other posters thought I was silly not to book a hotel because of slow elevators.

 

Yeah we love walking the strip. It seems like we'll be in a better spot at either Bally's or Linq as we were at Palazzo regardless. I loved Palazzo but we basically just slept there. Every day we were out somewhere in the car and at night we ended up walking all the way down to PH and back since the PH <--> Linq area is what we really prefer (though there is some stuff in between I do wish we could just teleport past).

Speaking of parking, does anyone have an opinion on the parking situation at either Bally's or Linq?

 

Well, last I heard they had not fixed them since the IP days and they were still slow as ever!

There were insane wait times, particularly on busy weekends and at check-out time on about any day! One Sunday morning the only way I could get down was to take an elevator UP and ride back down. It would typically take the elevator several minutes to arrive.

On a couple trips I kind of mentally timed the elevators at Flamingo and Sams Town. Both were always under a minute from pushing the button to doors open. Often it was 15 seconds or less.

 

It's a pretty long walk from Bally's parking structure to the casino or to the elevators to the rooms. The includes an elevator from the parking structure and then an escalator or another elevator to reach the walkway between Bally's and Paris and then another trek through the casino to get to the elevators to the hotel rooms. The nearest elevators are the ones servicing the Indigo Tower. The ones to the Jubilee Tower are considerably farther.

 

Elevators were exceptional when I stayed at Linq (last April). Never a wait going up and maybe a 3 minute wait at most once time heading down. Obviously, based on the other posts here, YMMV.

 

I have been staying at Ballys recently due to being downgraded by Total Rewards. Definitely 2 steps down from Palazzo and Vdara, older rooms are threadbare and smoky. Jubilee Rooms are nicer, have been remodeled, but you will hear the thumping from the Paris Hotel's nightclub next door.

On the positive side, it is in a good location, and Starbucks is just outside.

 

Do you think the noise will be as much of an issue in late December? I'm assuming the outdoor aspect won't be bumping quite the same as it would be in warmer months. Either way, we are staying Monday - Thursday so would only need to deal with it on Wednesday.

Location is the primary driver for wanting to move. We prefer that side of the strip, and specifically that stretch of strip between PHO and Linq, so being in the middle of it is great.

 

I thought Paris was changing the nightclub to a beer park this spring:

https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?126958-Beer-Park-by-Budweiser-Arrives-at-Paris-Las-Vegas-in-Early-2016

Maybe no bumping.

 

Most of the clubs are closed that week to prepare for the NYE fiasco. I wouldn't worry to much about that.

 

For parking at Bally's there's a "secret" "Sports Book Parking" which is a smaller but not well known surface lot to the east of the north tower and Sports Book entrance. I think it's actually closer to the north tower elevators than the Paris lot. It's not the best in the summer heat but I've used it a few times. You go in the Sports Book entrance and you're right there by the food court. Turn right and walk down the hall and there's actually a north tower elevator right at that level.

 

Stayed at the Linq in July and we loved it. as to the elevator issue, theres actually a set of elevator in the back, behind the main one that no one uses...

 

Paris closed the rooftop nightclub, is there another?

 

Stayed at ballys Jubilee rooms this past september and we never waited more than a minute for the elevaters. We stayed mon-fri and we didn't hear and club noise at all except from the noses of my buddies who were past out haha. We didn't rent a car so can't help you there. Staying at bally in less then 4 weeks from now we are renting a car this time. We plan on using the valet services. Ballys is awesome so close to so many properties with out a long walk.